asked the Minister of Housing and Local Government and Minister for Welsh Affairs what additional assistance he is prepared to give to local authorities in the North of England which are forced to undertake considerable sea defence works.

Grants have already been given, or promised to a number of local authorities in the North of England towards the cost of works carried out under the Coast Protection Act, 1949. My right hon. Friend is not aware that any additional assistance is required.

asked the Attorney-General whether he is satisfied that the rights of property owners are sufficiently protected by current law against damage caused by trespass by fox hunters; and what plans he has for new legislation on this subject.

I am satisfied that the rights of property owners are already sufficiently protected, and I do not therefore propose to introduce legislation on this subject.

asked the Attorney-General how many prosecutions have been instituted, in each of the last three years for which records are available, under Section 76 of the Local Government Act, 1933.

Five in 1956; one in 1957; three in 1958. In one case in 1958 there were three defendants.

asked the Attorney-General whether he will publish an explanatory leaflet setting out all the facilities now available under the Legal Aid and Advice Act, 1949.

The facilities for legal aid are shortly to be extended and it would not therefore be appropriate to publish an explanatory leaflet now. The Law Society has prepared a leaflet explaining the Legal Advice Scheme and I have asked the Society to provide me with copies, which I will make available to any hon. Members who would like to have them.

asked the Secretary of State for the Colonies what arrangements were made in Northern Rhodesia for the preservation of wild animals endangered by the flooding of the Kariba dam.

My right hon. Friend has asked the Governor for a full report. He is naturally very concerned that everything possible should be done to preserve the animals.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is yet in a position to state when the Bridge of Don at Aberdeen will be open for public use.

One carriageway of the reconstructed Bridge of Don has been in use since September, 1958, and both carriageways on the northern side are now being used by traffic. I am informed by Aberdeen Town Council that it is expected that, if weather conditions do not interfere, work on the second carriageway on the bridge will be completed by the end of March and work on the southern approach will be completed by the end of April.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will make available in the prison libraries of Scotland copies of HANSARD of 2nd February, 1959, Volume 599, No. 48, containing the official report of flee Secretary of State for the Home Department's statement on Command Paper No. 645, Penal Practice in a Changing Society, in order that any prisoner who desires to study it may do so.

I am arranging to make the, relevant extract from the OFFICIAL REPORT of 2nd February available in the prisons.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he is aware that in Scotland while the birth rate is increasing there is a serious shortage in the number of qualified midwives, and that this shortage is due to long hours and unsatisfactory working conditions, and is inimical to the health of mothers and children; and if he will take steps to make the financial and other conditions mare satisfactory so as to increase the number of midwives in Scotland.

My information is that there is no serious shortage of midwives in Scotland, and I have no evidence to suggest that the health of mothers and children is being prejudiced by the present level of staffing of hospital and local authority maternity services.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the expenditure incurred on the provision of deer fencing in Scotland by the Forestry Commission in the past 10 years.

The Commission's records of expenditure on fencing do not normally distinguish between deer fencing and other kinds of fencing. They are, however, making local inquiries with a view to arriving at an estimate of their expenditure on deer fencing. I will notify the hon. Member of the estimate as soon as it is available.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what estimate has been made of the damage to Forestry Commission plantations in Scotland caused by the depredations of red deer in the past 10 years.

The Commission has made no precise estimate but it considers that little damage has been caused. Where there is risk of serious damage by deer the plantations are fenced against them until the trees are old enough to withstand damage.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will state the amount of grants from public funds made for drainage or other reclamation works on sporting estates in Scotland in the past 10 years; what was the farm stock carried on these estates before the grants were made; and what was the farm stock carried on the latest available date.

These grants are restricted to works on land used for agricultural purposes. The records kept by my Department in relation to these grants do not give details of stock changes nor of the extent to which such land may also be used for sporting purposes.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland how many new schools, school extensions and housing schemes in Caithness and Sutherland were awaiting his approval on 7th February; and what is the total cost of all these projects.

Two proposals for the provision of new secondary departments of schools at Dornoch and Goispie at an estimated cost of £320,000, and lay-out and house plans for 23 houses at Wick for which no estimate of cost is yet available, were awaiting approval on 7th February. The school proposals have since been approved, and the housing plans will be approved this week.

asked the Secretary of State for Scotland what action he has taken to track down the members of the crew of the vessel, operating in Outer Hebridean waters, who came ashore at Kinlochresort last Friday, armed with rifles, and shot and carried away sheep belonging to local crofters.

It is the responsibility of the police to investigate criminal offences. In response to a request made by the police on 21st February, a fishery cruiser was diverted to provide transport for police officers to Loch Resort, but adverse sea conditions prevented her from making the passage.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what steps he is taking to bring films produced by the process known as Todd-AO within the statutory provisions for quota and levy for the British Film Production Fund.

This matter is being considered by the Cinematograph Films Council.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if his attention has been drawn to the recent sale of shares in the Associated British Picture Corporation; and what action he is taking to ensure that control of British film-producing companies does not pass out of British hands.

My right hon. Friend was consulted before this sale took place, and I understand that it does not involve any increase in the foreign holding of shares in this company. So far as the latter part of the hon. Member's Question is concerned, we have no measure of general application in mind.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number and nature of the replies he has received to the letter sent by him to over 60,000 managing directors in this country asking them to set up or expand industries in areas of high and persistent unemployment.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the number and nature of the replies he has received, to the latest date, to the letter which, in February, 1959, he sent to 50.000 managing directors, drawing attention to the assistance the Government are prepared to give to firms setting up factories in Aberdeen and the Highlands.

The letter was intended to draw attention to the facilities available in certain places, and did not seek a reply, but so far approximately 820 replies have been received either by the Board of Trade or by the Development Areas Treasury Advisory Committee. Of these, 288 have been identified as being potential applicants for loans or grants.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether his attention has been drawn to the threatened closure of the railway wagon building firm of Hurst Nelson & Co., Ltd., Motherwell; and whether, in view of his policy of seeking to encourage expansion of employment in this area of more than 8 per cent. unemployment, he will take immediate steps to ensure that this long established firm, which formerly employed 600 work-people, is not closed down.

I much regret this, but closure must depend on the commercial judgment of the management. Our Controller has done all he can to assist by advising the firm of all the sources known to him from which work might be available, but we have no powers to direct work to a particular firm.

asked the President of the Board of Trade what are the prospects of the development of industrial sites in Newton Aycliffe; what factory sites are still available at the Aycliffe Trading Estate; and what are the prospects of any new industry coming on to this estate within the near future.

We keep in mind the need for additional employment on the Aycliffe Trading Estate, and extensions have been authorised which will provide over 300 jobs. There are 187 acres still available for new industry on six plots on the Trading Estate.

asked the President of the Board of Trade if he will state the value of cotton yarn and piece goods exported to Egypt for each of the years 1955, 1956, 1957 and 1958.

The figures for 1955 and 1956 are published in Volume III of the "Annual Statement of Trade of the United Kingdom with Commonwealth Countries and Foreign Countries, 1956," while those for 1957 and 1958 are given in the December issue of the Trade and Navigation Accounts to which I would refer the hon. Member.

asked the President of the Board of Trade whether in order to encourage the full exploitation of the nonferrous mining potentialities in Weardale, County Durham, such as are listed in Paper No. 7 delivered in September, 1958. by Professor K. C. Dunham to the In54itate of Mining and Metallurgy, a copy of which has been sent to him, he will consider giving financial aid to the industries concerned.

Weardale is not a D.A.T.A.C. area. The exploitation of these non-ferrous minerals is a matter for private enterprise.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that hospital stationery supplies may be purchased from registered suppliers free of Purchase Tax, but that registered suppliers often furnish large unregistered retailers with substantial stationery supplies and that hospital boards often deal with the latter, thus involving the boards in paying Purchase Tax on stationery; why Purchase Tax exemption is not applicable to all stationery purchased by hospital boards whether from registered or unregistered traders, as is possible for exports; and, in view of the undesirable discrimination involved between registered and unregistered traders in the matter of stationery supplies for hospitals, whether he will take early action to remedy the situation.

Arrangements have been made which meet the difficulties of which the Stationers' Association has complained.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer why mouse traps of all kinds are still subjected to Purchase Tax whereas only the break-back and other household types of rat traps are so taxed; what type of rat traps are now exempt from Purchase Tax; whether, in the interests of public health and avoidance of waste, he will arrange at the earliest possible date for all mouse traps, rat traps and fly swatters to be exempted from Purchase Tax; and what consultation there has been with other Departments which expend money in subsidising and encouraging the destruction of pests such as rats, mice, and flies.

The tax applies to domestic articles only. I will bear in mind my hon. Friend's wish for equality between mice and rats so that, even in death, none shall be more equal than others.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer whether he is aware that French, German and American toilet preparations are now dominating international sales whilst Great Britain occupies a minor rôle, and that a significant factor in this situation is the Purchase Tax charge on British toilet preparations sold on the home market at 60 per cent. including containers and packages; what steps he is taking to remove containers and packages from the incidence of Purchase Tax; and whether he will make a statement.

I can only remind my hon. Friend of the reply given to him by my hon. Friend the Economic Secretary on 5th February.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer (1) what is his estimate of the revenue raised in a full year by Purchase Tax on those goods subjected at present to the top rate of 60 per cent.; and what would be the loss of revenue if all goods at present subjected to 60 per cent. were to be subjected only to 30 per cent.;(2) what is his estimate of the amount of revenue raised in a full year by Purchase Tax on those goods subjected at present to the lowest rate of five per cent.;(3) what is his estimate of the loss of revenue involved in abolishing the 5 per cent. rate of Purchase Tax, reducing the 15 per cent. rate to 10 per cent., reducing the 30 per cent. rate to 20 per cent., and reducing the 60 per cent. rate to 30 per cent.

The Budget estimate of £490 million in respect of Purchase Tax for the financial year 1958–59 was made up as follows:

Rate of tax per cent.				Estimated yield £ million
60	…	…	…	209
30	…	…	…	178
15	…	…	…	45
5	…	…	…	58
				490

It is not the practice to publish any revision of Budget estimates in the course of the financial year, and I am not now prepared to say what would have been the expected cost of the changes mentioned by my hon. Friend at the time the above estimates were made.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what loss of revenue there would be if Purchase Tax on motor cars were abolished and motor cars ceased to rank as a business expense.

The yield of the Purchase Tax on motor cars in 1957–58 was about £110 million. The estimated cost of both initial and annual allowances on cars in that year is about £35 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what consultations he had with members, and representatives, of the former British community in Egypt concerning the conditions necessary for a financial agreement with that country.

The general issues arising in the financial negotiations with Egypt were discussed at a series of meetings between representatives of the Departments concerned and the representatives of persons and organisations with interests in Egypt. It would not have been practicable, however, to consult such persons and organisations at every stage in the negotiations.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer if he will now make a statement regarding the negotiations for an Anglo-Egyptian financial agreement.

I refer my hon. Friend to the statement which I made yesterday.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount received by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency for the ordinary shares of Stewarts and Lloyds, Limited, which it sold; and what is the present value of those shares.

The Agency received £17·5 million. At yesterday's Stock Exchange middle price the shares were worth £27·5 million.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount received by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency for the ordinary shares of the Steel Company of Wales which it sold; and what is the present value of those shares.

The Agency received £40 million. At yesterday's Stock Exchange middle price the shares were worth £46·5 million.

asked the Secretary to the Treasury what was the amount received by the Iron and Steel Holding and Realisation Agency for the ordinary shares of Colvilles, Limited, which it sold; and what is the present value of those shares.

The Agency received £13 million: At yesterday's Stock Exchange middle price the shares were worth £14·625 million.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer how much public money remains invested in the steel companies formerly nationalised; and what percentage this represents of the total capital and the equity capital, respectively, of these companies.

The Agency's investments in companies which have ceased to be subsidiary had at the end of the Agency's last financial year a nominal value of £174·7 million and a book value to the Agency of £142·0 million (including in each case an unsecured loan of £16·5 million).Information more up to date than that contained in the latest accounts is not available about the present capital structure of the companies which have ceased to be subsidiaries of the Agency. However, it is estimated that in those companies the nominal value of the Agency's investments (which include no equity capital) is equivalent to approximately 89 per cent. of the nominal value of the equity capital or about 40 per cent. of the total nominal share and loan capital.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what was the amount of grant to the Arts Council for expenditure in England, Wales, and Scotland, respectively, during the last financial year; and what are the comparable estimates for the current year, and for 1959–60.

The grant to the Arts Council for these three years has been, or will be, as follows: 1957–58, £985,000 1958–59, £1,100,000; 1959–60, £1,218,000. The distribution of the grant is a matter for the Arts Council. For the actual distribution between England, Scotland and Wales in 1957–58 I would refer the hon. Member to the Arts Council's Thirteenth Annual Report.

asked the Chancellor of the Exchequer what progress has been made in carrying out the decisions of the Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference held at Montreal in September, 1958; and whether he will make a statement.

Yes, the Report of the Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference is being actively followed up.As far as general objectives of economic policy are concerned, I give as one example the increase in international liquidity which will be achieved by the resolutions of the I.M.F. and I.B.R.D. for the enlargement of the resources of these, Institutions. The policy represented by these resolutions was supported by all the members of the Commonwealth at the Montreal Conference. Another example lies in the field of commodity policy. As agreed at the Conference, Her Majesty's Government have participated in recent months in international talks on sugar and non-ferrous metals. A further conference to negotiate a new international wheat agreement is now in progress.

asked the Under-Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations what is the estimated cost of the cantonment to be construced at Sungei Besi in Malaya; when it will be completed; and what proportion of the cost will fall upon the British Exchequer.

The Government of the Federation of Malaya are proposing to construct at Sungei Besi a cantonment to house the Federation Military College and other units of the Federation Armed Forces. I understand that the estimated cost of the cantonment is in the region of £2 million. I have no information on the likely date of completion. Expenditure of the Federation Government on this cantonment will be eligible for reimbursement, wholly or in part, by the United Kingdom Government under the programme of aid to the expansion of the Federation's Armed Forces which was announced in January, 1957. The proportion of the cost of the Sungei Besi cantonment, or of other individual items under the programme, which will in fact be met by the United Kingdom Government will depend on the cost of other building projects financed under the same programme.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty how many attempts have been made by Icelandic gunboats to board British trawlers within the 12-mile limit, and with what results; and how many fishery protection vessels are maintained in this area to protect these trawlers.

Since 1st September, 1958, when the present fishery dispute with Iceland began, there have been 29 attempts by Icelandic gunboats to board British trawlers inside the 12-mile fishery limit claimed by Iceland. None of these attempts has led to serious incidents, partly because of the intervention of H.M. ships, partly as a result of the determination and self-restraint of trawler crews; on only two occasions has an Icelandic party succeeded in boarding a British trawler.In the first of these cases, in September last year, the Icelandic boarding party was removed to a British Fishery Protection Vessel and subsequently landed in Iceland. In the second case, also last September, the boarding party withdrew of its own accord.Three R.N. Fishery Protection Vessels are at present maintained in the Iceland area to give protection to British trawlers.

asked the Parliamentary Secretary to the Admiralty (1) how many modernised warships of each type have been brought into service during the last year;(2) how many new warships of each type have been brought into service during the last year; and how many have been scrapped or placed on unmaintained reserve.

During the financial year 1958–59, one cruiser, three frigates and three submarines of new construction will have commissioned, together with one carrier, two destroyers, and four submarines, which have been modernised. During the same period approval has been given to scrap two cruisers, eleven frigates and six submarines. I am afraid I cannot disclose the operational readiness of particular ships in reserve.

asked the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food if he will send a circular to all county councils and other local authorities concerned, drawing their attention to Section 7 of the Agriculture Act, 1958, with a view to weed infestation of road verges being kept to a minimum.

Section 7 of the Agriculture Act, 1958, relates only to certain scheduled weeds, namely: spear thistle, creeping or field thistle, curled dock, broad leaved dock and ragwort. No evidence of the need to draw the attention of highway authorities to their responsibilities in regard to infestation on road verges has been submitted to me. If the hon. Member has a particular case in mind I will investigate it.

asked the Minister of Health (1) what, as a percentage figure, is expected to be allocated to the Northern Region for hospital development in 1958–59 and 1960–61; and how will it compare with other regions;(2) what, as a percentage figure was given to the Northern Region for hospital development in 1957–58; and how it compared with other regions in the country.

In 1957–58 8½ per cent. of the total capital expenditure on hospitals in England and Wales was in the Newcastle region. This is about one-third more than the region's share on a population basis. For 1958–59 the region's share is expected to be about 10 per cent. of the total or half as much again as would be allocated on a population basis; the ratios are likely to he about the same for 1960–61.

asked the Minister of Health what advice he is giving to local authorities who wish to introduce a byelaw to restrain customers from bringing dogs into premises where food is sold.

They are advised that, while there is much to be said for such a prohibition, he doubts whether, in practice, a prohibitive byelaw would prove effective. The reasons for this are those which I gave in answer to the hon. Lady's supplementary Question on the 23rd February.

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department if he will state the number of murders known to the police for the months of October, November and December, 1958, and January, 1959.

The figures for October, November and December, 1958, were 12, 8 and 20, respectively. I regret that those for January, 1959, are not yet available. The figures include some cases which may be found not to be murder.

asked the Minister of Supply if he will make a comprehensive statement on the new radar station near Aberdeen, the foundations of which have recently been laid by agreement between the British and United States Governments, indicating its purpose and when it will be completed.

This station, as I said on 23rd February, is a research station, and its purpose is to obtain more knowledge of the properties of the aurora and its effects on the propagation of radio waves. The site should be prepared and the equipment assembled by June. Observations will then begin and are expected to last for one or two years. We are, of course, taking precautions against interference with the local reception of radio and television and, as I stated in my previous answer, there will be no danger to people or to livestock through radiation from this Station.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation what schemes for providing underpasses, flyovers and similar road junctions are included in the road programme for the period after 1st April, 1959.

As I have frequently said. I do not intend to announce lists of specific schemes far in advance, but I can assure my hon. Friend that in the road programme beyond 1st April, 1959, all motorway junctions will be designed as flyovers or underpasses and that grade separation will he used at other road junctions where this course is justified.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when he expects to be able to reach a decision on the suggestion to impose waiting restrictions in Watling Street, Radlett, on its north-east side between the entrance and exit to and from the railway station.

I am about to advertise a proposal for waiting restrictions in Watling Street, Radlett, after which I will refer it to the London and Home Counties Traffic Advisory Committee, whose advice and report I must have before reaching a decision.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation when work on the junction at Chalkwell Road and A2 road at Sittingbourne will begin.

I hope that work will start in the early summer.

asked the Minister of Transport and Civil Aviation if he will supply a report upon the accident which took place at Barton Bridge, Eccles, on 19th February; and if he will cause an inquiry to be made in order to see if the accident, with its consequent loss of life, could have been avoided.

No. I was very sorry to hear of this accident, but the responsibility for this project in no way rests on my Ministry. This is a classified road scheme in which my Ministry's interest is that of making a 75 per cent. grant to approved works. The Lancashire County Council is the highway authority and I am told that it is at present making investigations in order to give the coroner what assistance it can at the inquest. I understand that H.M. Factory Inspectors are also making investigations.